World

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2013 file photo, a sign at the entrance of French meat supplier Spanghero in Castelnaudary, southern France. French economy minister Benoit Hamon on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013 pinned the bulk of the blame on a French wholesaler at the heart of the growing scandal in Europe. (AP Photo/Manuel Blondeau, File)

Tests have found horsemeat in school meals, hospital food and restaurant dishes in Britain, spreading the scandal over adulterated meat beyond frozen supermarket products.

Results were coming Friday after food safety officials ordered supermarkets and suppliers to test all processed meals labeled as beef for traces of horsemeat.

Whitbread PLC, Britain's largest hotel and restaurant company, said horsemeat had been found in lasagna and burgers served at its Premier Inn hotels and Brewers Fayre restaurant chain.

Officials also said horsemeat was present in cottage pies delivered to 47 schools in Lancashire county, northern England.

Horse also has turned up in hospital meals in Northern Ireland. David Bingham, of the health service's Business Services Organization, said the meals, from a supplier in the Republic of Ireland, had been withdrawn.